No action against street vendors in festive season: AAP govt

The AAP government has asked civic bodies in the national capital not to evict street vendors during the festive season, amid allegations of them being “harassed” by agencies in the wake of a Delhi High Court order.

Municipal authorities carried out eviction drives after the HC on October 5 ruled that street vendors cannot sell their wares in areas which were identified as non-hawking zones under the earlier schemes on street vending.

Urban Development Minister (additional charge) Satyendar Jain issued an order on October 10 in this regard following a meeting with top officials of PWD and revenue.

“No coercive action is to be taken against petty vendors during the festive season. Principal Secretary, Urban Development, to submit a comprehensive note detailing the response to the observations of Lt Governor and factual staus regarding the town vending committees vis-a-vis the observations/directions of the HC in the pending cases of street vending,” minutes of the meeting said.

Congress leader Ajay Maken has been protesting alleged harassment of street vendors and hawkers by the city government, civic bodies and police. He has demanded the implementation of Street Vendors Act, 2014.

According to Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending ) Act, 2014, rules had to be framed within six months for the settlement of the street vendors, and within one year, a scheme was to be prepared for its implementation.